The Baltimore Orioles are having a rough start to Spring Training. The injuries are starting to add up and so is the payroll.
Just days after getting the news that Chris Tillman would be out for at least three weeks with a shoulder issue, we learned that shortstop J.J. Hardy will be sidelined with back spasms. It’s similar to the back problems he has had in the past, but he said these are lasting longer, per Roch Kubatko.
Hardy has dealt with similar spasms in past. These lasting longer. #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) February 17, 2017
Hardy has already had a CT and MRI scan on his back, and the next step would be bone scan. He does believe he could be back to baseball activities by March 1 and still be on schedule to be ready for Opening Day.
Hardy said ideally he'd start baseball activities by March 1 #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) February 17, 2017
Buck Showalter has already said that Manny Machado would see time at shortstop this spring, but never hinted at any problems with Hardy. It has always been more than just Machado needing reps before heading to the World Baseball Classic. Showalter is preparing himself for if (and when) Hardy has more back issues.
The injury has reportedly been a problem since the day before FanFest, and is the reasoning why the club has signed Robert Andino, Johnny Giavotella and Chris Johnson in recent weeks. With Hardy out and Manny heading to the WBC, the O’s will get a long look at the veterans hoping to beat utility infielder Ryan Flaherty for a spot on the roster.
The 34-year-old has struggled with injuries for much of his career in Baltimore, but the Orioles have come to expect these issues with Hardy and neither he or the club seem overly concerned. Showalter has options at shortstop should Hardy be forced to miss extended time. He has had to address this hole in the infield all too often as of late.
Brach Wins Arbitration Case
The Orioles had a rare defeat in the court room today as well. Baltimore lost their arbitration hearing against reliever Brad Brach, who will earn $3.05 million instead of the $2.525 million the team was offering. The Orioles were 11-1 in arbitration case prior to Friday and it was the first loss for the club since Ben McDonald in 1995.
Baltimore has now settled all of their arbitration cases and the payroll is an estimated $164 million. That is $17 million more than last season.
The news keeps getting worse out of Sarasota in the first week of workouts, but fortunately, there is still plenty of time until the games matter on April 3.
Things have to get better from here, right?
